How much should you be working out over the holidays?

The holidays are approaching and, like us, you’re probably looking forward to some downtime – with or without family and friends. With so much going on over the festive season, routines can go out the window. And, that’s completely understandable.

But we all know how important exercise is for our mental health. So if you are wondering how to approach your workouts over the holidays, we spoke to our Boxing Activist Dave Gordon for some tips…

"How much should I work out over the holidays?"

Your workouts and what your body needs is completely unique to you. You know yourself better than anyone, so you may already have an idea of how much exercise you’d like to do on a daily or weekly basis.

Ultimately, there is no right amount of time to work out. But we do have a few tips on how to make keeping active over the holidays that little bit easier. 

Keep it short and sweet

While you may not be able to fit in your normal workouts over the holidays, you might find that some exercise is better than none at all.

“Keep your workouts short and sweet to maximise your downtime with family and friends,” says Dave.

You could find 10 minutes to do a few exercises at home or head for a swim instead of your regular class. Walks with the dog, swapping the car for your legs, active games with your children – they all count too.

Need more than 10 minutes?

“If you really want to schedule in a workout, aim to get it done in the morning, so the rest of your day is free for more important things.”

Keep it simple

Whether you’re short on time or low on kit, the key is to keep it simple. If you’re struggling to fit in time to go club, Dave suggests:

“Why not plug in and do a full body HIIT session on the app?”

You won’t need any equipment for these bodyweight workouts and you won’t even need to leave your house. Sound like a plan? We’ve got plenty more online workouts on our app, including Yoga, Pilates, Strength & Conditioning and Boxing. 

Keep active with friends (or family)

As we all know, exercise is not something that has to be done alone. Whatever your goals, having a workout buddy with you always helps to keep motivation high.

If you’re planning on meeting friends and family over the holidays, Dave says:

“Try and incorporate the two. Can you go for a walk/hike/run with other people?”

It a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and catch up too!  

Keep calm

You can have the best intentions for your fitness but, sometimes, it’s just not going to work. And, that’s completely alright.

“The most important thing to bear in mind is: don't stress about it. One or two weeks out of your fitness routine is nothing in the grand scheme of your goals. If you get a little session in every day, then great. If you get no sessions in during the festivities, so what? Enjoy yourself!”